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Brubaker (1980)

R  132 min  -  Drama   -  20 June 1980 (USA)
6.9
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Ratings: 6.9/10 from 6,573 users  
Reviews: 30 user | 19 critic

The new warden of a small prison farm in Arkansas tries to clean it up of corruption after initially posing as an inmate.

Director:

Stuart Rosenberg

Writers:

W.D. Richter (screenplay), W.D. Richter (story), and 3 more credits »
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Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Redford ...
Yaphet Kotto ...
Richard 'Dickie' Coombes
Jane Alexander ...
Murray Hamilton ...
John Deach
David Keith ...
Larry Lee Bullen
Morgan Freeman ...
Walter
Matt Clark Matt Clark ...
Roy Purcell
Tim McIntire Tim McIntire ...
Huey Rauch
Richard Ward Richard Ward ...
Abraham Cook
Jon Van Ness ...
Zaranska
M. Emmet Walsh ...
C.P. Woodward
Albert Salmi Albert Salmi ...
Rory Poke
Linda Haynes ...
Carol
Everett McGill ...
Eddie Caldwell
Val Avery ...
Wendel
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Storyline

When the new Warden comes in disguised as an inmate, he sees first hand all the corruption and scams the guards and prison officials and running. When he reveals himself, and starts to implement reforms to stop the corruption, the local community business, who had been benefiting from the scams, fights back, and the corrupt southern prison system, starts making political trouble for the new warden. Written by Brian W Martz <B.Martz@Genie.com>  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Corruption | Prison | Prison Farm | Abuse | Prison Rape  | See more »

Taglines:

The most wanted man in Wakefield prison is the warden! See more »

Genres:

Drama

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

As Grades do Inferno See more »

Filming Locations:

Columbus, Ohio, USA See more »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$2,748,079 (USA) (22 June 1980) (594 Screens)

Gross:

$37,121,708 (USA)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on the real-life efforts of former prison administrator Thomas O. Murton to reform Tucker and Cummins Prison Farms in Arkansas in 1967-68. Murton served as a technical advisor for the film. See more »

Goofs

Continuity: After leaving the prison board meeting, while speaking with Lillian Gray in the Hilton Inn parking lot, Brubaker claims to have locked his keys in the car. Lillian Gray then opens an unlocked passenger-side door (humiliating Brubaker). At the conclusion of a previous scene, when Brubaker is leaving for the prison board meeting, an angry Dickie Coombes slammed his hand down on the passenger side door, locking it (the camera is focused on this action). See more »

Quotes

Richard 'Dickie' Coombes: Hey, Brubaker, you know something? That's the first time I've heard those guys laugh in fifteen years!
Henry Brubaker: It doesn't bother you, does it?
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Sugar Boxx (2009) See more »

Soundtracks

"Respect"
(uncredited)
Written by Otis Redding
Performed by Morgan Freeman when he attacks another inmate See more »